This archive report was first published on 29 June 2021.
On June 28, 2021, a tragic incident occurred in Garba-Tula, Isiolo County, where a 19-year-old woman, Saadika Dika, allegedly stabbed her 23-year-old husband, Abdijabar Sube, to death while he was sleeping.
According to reports, Dika had recently left her matrimonial home following endless domestic disputes, but was asked by the elders to reunite with Sube, a resident of Sericho Location in Garba-Tula.
At 4am on the same day, Dika allegedly reached for Sube's sword, which he had placed on a stool near the bed, and stabbed him once in the chest.
"The victim died on the spot after losing a lot of blood," said Garba-Tula Sub-County Police Commander Hassan Sebe.
The police chief added that the suspect, who was arrested on Monday morning, refused to disclose the circumstances surrounding Sube's killing.
A local administrator, who spoke to The Standard in confidence, revealed that the couple had frequent fights, with Dika accusing Sube of infidelity and rarely spending time at home.
"Every time she'd leave for her parents' home, the village elders would ask her to return," said the administrator.
On Saturday, Dika allegedly left for her parents' home, again, and was asked to return to her husband by the elders.
Garba-Tula Deputy County Commissioner, Stephen Nyakundi, has urged local elders to strive to understand couples' problems and prescribe appropriate solutions to avert killings similar to that of Sube.
